Arcade machines have long been a perfect venue for heart-pounding zombie and survival experiences, leveraging their unique hardware to create immersive, high-intensity gameplay. Unlike home consoles, arcade cabinets are designed for short, explosive sessions that emphasize immediate action and skill. The primary mechanic is often the light gun or positional gun, allowing players to physically aim and shoot at oncoming zombie hordes with satisfying precision. Games like *The House of the Dead* and *Time Crisis* (with zombie-like enemies) popularized this format, where survival depends on quick reflexes and accurate shooting to conserve limited ammunition.

Furthermore, arcade titles ingeniously incorporate survival mechanics through resource management. This is not the complex crafting of PC games but a streamlined version where players earn points for kills, which can be used for weapon upgrades or health packs between stages. The constant pressure of a ticking timer or a limited number of credits forces players to make split-second decisions, enhancing the survivalist feel. Cooperative gameplay is another critical element; many cabinets feature dual guns, encouraging players to team up to cover each other and survive increasingly difficult waves of enemies. The physical design of the cabinet itself, with its large screen, booming audio, and tactile feedback from the gun, creates a visceral sense of being trapped in a zombie apocalypse, making every shot and every narrow escape a thrilling test of survival.